LCC Loses to Steele Canyon; Rematch on Thursday

A third playoff game featuring Steele Canyon High visiting La Costa Canyon will be played on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. after the Cougars topped the host Mavericks 6-3 on Tuesday in the San Diego Section Division II playoffs.

Right-hander Clayton Royer, normally the Steele Canyon shortstop, made a rare mound appearance and held LCC to one run over 5 2/3 innings. The Mavs didn't get their first hit until two were out in the fourth. Royer yielded five hits, walked two and struck out three to improve to 2-2.

The Steele Canyon (19-13) vs. La Costa Canyon (26-7) winner on Thursday earns a berth against Helix in Saturday's 4 p.m. championship game at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

LCC pulled to within 4-1 with an unearned run in the fifth, but a two-run homer by Garrett Gandolfoa put the Cougars up 6-1 in the top of the seventh.

A run-scoring double by Daniel Martin and a sacrifice fly by Nick Hanggie in the last of the seventh only made the final score a bit more respectable.

Left-hander Trent Swart lost for only the second time in 11 decisions, giving up six hits, walking two and striking out six.